An Australian sleep expert has developed a method for detecting drowsiness with what looks like an ordinary pair of sunglasses.

Sleep Diagnostics will show its Optalert™ system at this year’s Freight Expo in Melbourne.

Developed by leading Australian sleep expert Dr Murray Johns, Optalert is a scientifically proven system that provides advice to the driver of impending drowsiness before they fall asleep at the wheel.

The Optalert glasses look and feel like an ordinary pair of sunglasses, but a small sensor emits pulses of invisible light to measure eye and eyelid movement.

An in-dash processing unit analyses the data and emits an audible warning if it detects that the driver’s level of drowsiness is becoming dangerous.

Sleep Diagnostics CEO Phil Burke says Optalert had been adopted by some of the biggest names in the transport and mining sectors.

“Toll Liquid Distribution and Linfox are early adopters in the transport sector, while Anglo Coal, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto have installed Optalert™ into their mining haul trucks,” he says.

According to Burke, Optalert is the world’s first validated system for providing early warnings of drowsiness.

“Tough new fatigue management regulations for the transport industry highlight the danger of drowsiness on the roads, and Optalert will reduce drowsy-related accidents,” he says.

“Under chain of responsibility regulations for fatigue management, all parties must ensure they do not breach the duty of care by their demands, actions or inactions, so Optalert can play a key role in the chain of responsibility.”http://www.optalert.comFreight Expo 2007 runs from 19 to 21 September at Caulfield Race Course in Melbourne.